National collaboration announced to build a more robust US supply chain and build the nation's manufacturing base

New York City, NY, August 20th, 2013 — GLOBALFOUNDRIES and five partners today announced their Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action, a collaborative effort that has the potential to strengthen the US supply chain and build the manufacturing base. The commitment, which was the outgrowth of discussions during the 2012 CGI America meeting in Chicago, now moves from the developmental to implementation stage.

The NSNI is being lead and facilitated by GF and brings together representatives from the University of Michigan, Battelle and others in a collaborative partnership with the AutoHarvest Foundation, CONNECT, the CONNECTORY, the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) and the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) to create a regional pilot in the Hudson Valley of NY (“Tech Valley”) that is intended to better connect the supply chain. Key components of the NSNI include helping small and midsized manufacturers get connected to large manufacturers as suppliers, improve access to innovation and to generally help provide direction when it comes to needed assistance through the use of an online network and leveraging the expertise of existing organizations. The overall goal is to create a scalable model, ultimately providing a tool to build a more robust US supply chain and grow the US manufacturing base.

“As it becomes more evident that the success of modern manufacturing will be an integral part of the growth of the U.S. economy, it is apparent that a strong linkage between all size manufactures and access to innovation is imperative to ensure that the U.S. manufacturing sector can compete and lead in the global economy,” said Mike Russo, senior manager, government relations, GF. “Large manufacturers need to be able to easily identify smaller manufacturers who are able to supply needed goods and smaller manufacturers need to know where their potential markets lie and have access to the latest innovation in order to improve manufacturing processes and product design. CGI has provided the vehicle for those now engaged in the NSNI to come together to identify and solve this fundamental problem.”

“The NSNI is intended to develop a comprehensive method to connect the supply chain,” said Sridhar Kota, University of Michigan. “Much of the needed information and resources exist, but there is no easy way for especially small and mid-sized manufacturers to access it. Better connectivity could provide manufacturers the necessary access to resources ranging from IP, expertise, and software tools to test facilities products, parts and capital. A state-of-the-art online network that leverages existing networks and resources will create the needed connectivity, leveraging existing expertise and information.”

“This CGI Commitment to Action, which strives to improve the American economy by invigorating the manufacturing value chain, aligns well with our inclusive intellectual property ecosystem that utilizes social media tools to smart-connect R&D and manufacturing innovators and commercializers to accelerate the adoption of innovation”, said AutoHarvest President and CEO, Jayson D. Pankin.

The process entails developing a scalable model by initially focusing on three geographic regions (the West, Mid-west and East). The CONNECTORY and CONNECT have a presence in California and the Pacific Northwest, the AutoHarvest Foundation in Michigan and the HVTDC/CEG are located in the nation’s new “Tech Valley”. The initial pilot will utilize the HVTDC and their existing platform in conjunction with the Capital Region MEP (led by the Center for Economic Growth) to develop a scalable framework and prototype web-based platform leveraging expertise of the others involved. Several other markets across the nation have expressed an interest to be involved as early pilots.

Regional economic development entities in other markets will be responsible for outreach and facilitation throughout the nation as the initiative is scaled, using the Hudson Valley model. This process will be conducive to scaling because it utilizes the existing grass roots, regional structure to facilitate...giving municipalities and economic development entities the tools necessary to understand the system, working with manufacturers/suppliers and to provide data to update the system in real time (through the use of templates), which helps to maintain the site and database.

While the initial focus of the NSNI is to connect all sized manufacturers in the supply chain in order to grow their markets and to provide better access to both product and process innovation, through better connectivity/sharing of best practices and leveraging existing platforms, the broader goal will be to help address the other top issues identified by manufacturers, including access to capital/financing; assistance in developing sustainability/environmentally friendly operations, access to design enablement and general business assistance to address issues inhibiting business growth.

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,300 commitments, which are already improving the lives of more than 400 million people in over 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $73.5 billion. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

ABOUT GF

GF is the world’s first full-service semiconductor foundry with a truly global footprint. Launched in March 2009, the company has quickly achieved scale as the second largest foundry in the world, providing a unique combination of advanced technology and manufacturing to more than 160 customers. With operations in Singapore, Germany and the United States, GF is the only foundry that offers the flexibility and security of manufacturing centers spanning three continents. The company’s three 300mm fabs and five 200mm fabs provide the full range of process technologies from mainstream to the leading edge. This global manufacturing footprint is supported by major facilities for research, development and design enablement located near hubs of semiconductor activity in the United States, Europe and Asia. GF is owned by the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC). For more information, visit http://www.globalfoundries.com.

ABOUT AutoHarvest

AutoHarvest Foundation is a Michigan 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization - led by some of the most highly respected figures in the automotive industry. AutoHarvest is designing and launching a marketplace-driven e-collaboration system that accelerates innovation in advanced manufacturing. AutoHarvest is guided by its peer interest group, which consists of over 170 prominent government, university, automaker, supplier, venture capital, business accelerator and manufacturing organizations. Located within the innovation hubs of the Southeast Michigan region including Wayne State University's Research and Development Park TechTown - and the University of Michigan's North Campus Research Complex, AutoHarvest sits in the heart of NAFTA’s automotive cluster. Recently awarded a grant by the New Economy Initiative Foundation (“NEI”), AutoHarvest is part of the Detroit Regional Innovation Network. For more information visit: http://www.autoharvest.org.

ABOUT CONNECT

CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of more than 3,000 companies in the San Diego region and is widely regarded as one of the world's most successful organizations linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for commercialization of innovative products in high tech and life sciences. The program has been modeled in more than 50 regions around the world. CONNECT has been recognized by Inc., Time and Entrepreneur magazines and in 2011 won the national State Science and Technology Institute's 2011 Excellence in Tech Based Economic Development Award for Building Entrepreneurial Capacity. In 2010 CONNECT was the recipient of the Innovation in Economic Development Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce for creation of Regional Innovation Clusters. CONNECT manages the San Diego, Imperial Valley, Inland SoCal Innovation Hub (iHub) designated by the state of California Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development in 2010. Key to our success has been the unique "culture of collaboration" between research organizations, capital sources, professional service providers and the established industries. For information on CONNECT or its programs, contact us at (858) 964-1300 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (858) 964-1300 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit connect.org

ABOUT THE CONNECTORY

Connectory.com® -- the award-winning buyer-supplier resource that contains more than 22,000 detailed capabilities profiles of companies across all industries at every level of the supply chain including Manufacturing, Technology/R&D, Technical Services, Industrial Suppliers, Construction and the Trades, and Raw Materials (Agribusiness and Mining/ Quarrying). Connectory is fully keyword searchable with company locations mapped in a linked GIS API. Connectory is the supply chain database partner with CONNECT on their Nearsourcing Initiative aimed at effectively linking innovators to local providers of manufacturing and technical services. Connectory is a project of the East County Economic Development Council. For more information visit: connectory.com.

ABOUT THE HVTDC

Founded in 1988, the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center, Inc. (HVTDC) is a non-profit organization and one of ten regional technology development centers funded cooperatively through the Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, which works to facilitate the integration of innovation and technology throughout New York’s economic development efforts and the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST). HVTDC partners with their clients by delivering cost effective business solutions that help achieve sustained growth, optimize profits, identify competitive advantages and realize a high level of corporate social responsibility. The HVTDC experienced staff includes electrical, mechanical, computer and industrial engineers and project managers who have in-depth experience in business management, new product design and development, database and web development, production operations, business process analysis/improvement, grant writing and administration, management policy analysis, workforce training/development, strategic planning, organizational design, management policy and industrial engineering.

ABOUT CEG

Since 1987, the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) has been committed to fostering visionary economic growth throughout the 11-county Capital Region, as well as a significant portion of the Tech Valley corridor. As a private, not-for-profit organization we work with a diverse group of members and partners to advance the ability of the region and its assets to succeed in the global marketplace. With a focused and strategic approach we work to: GROW local companies by offering tactical business development strategies and services; ATTRACT opportunities for technology investment and expansion throughout Tech Valley and PREPARE communities to achieve their desired economic growth while enhancing the region’s excellent quality of life. In addition to support from its dedicated members, CEG receives funding and resources from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, which works to facilitate the integration of innovation and technology throughout New York’s economic development efforts, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) / Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and National Grid. www.ceg.org